If we look at the list of all major improvements that Apple recently brought to users, Apple Health’s new capabilities are right there at the top. With a plethora of new features, like Sleep Tracking and Wind Down, users can take better control of their usage and physical activity and, actually, improve their health. However, the core feature of Steps Tracking seemingly doesn’t work for some. It seems that Apple Health is not tracking steps for some reason and there’s no obvious reason why.
If you are among affected iPhone users, make sure to check the steps we provided below.
Table of contents:
How do I get Apple Health to track my steps?
1. Reboot your device
A simple restart might fix the problem. If certain sensors come to a halt, the power-off/power-on sequence should address the problem.
On the other hand, if Apple Health is still not tracking steps or shows wrong entries, check the next step.
2. Check Privacy Settings
Privacy Settings might be another reason that causes issues with the step-tracking feature of Apple Health. In this case, this specifically applies to Fitness Tracking and Health options under Motion & Fitness.
So, make sure to enable Fitness Tracking and Health before moving to the next step. Here’s what you need to do:
- Open Settings.
- Select Privacy.
- Open Motion & Fitness.
- Enable Fitness Tracking and Health options.
Besides, one experienced user recommended disabling these options and re-enabling them again. That seems to fix the problem for some, so give it a try and look for improvements.
3. Check Data Sources & Access
This step concerns data sources and how to prioritize them so you’ll get not only better readings but resolve possible issues. This especially applies to users that have multiple devices used to track steps. Namely, the data services at the top will be the main ones used for step tracking. For example, if multiple sources contribute to Steps, and you want your iPhone readings, you’ll need to set your iPhone as the primary one to get the readings from it.
This goes for apps and devices, so make sure to tweak the list and prioritize readings. The same applies if you want that Apple Health prioritizes readings from your Apple Watch rather than your iPhone.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Open the Apple Health app.
- Tap on Activity.
- Choose Steps.
- Scroll to the bottom and open Data Sources & Access.
- Tap Edit.
- Tap and drag your iPhone to the top of the list and tap Done. You can also disable other data sources, so Apple Health will strictly record steps tracked by your iPhone.
- Restart your device and look for improvements.
4. Update iOS
If none of the previous steps worked for you and Apple Health is still not tracking steps, make sure to reinstall the app. As this is an essential iOS app, Apple Health can’t be uninstalled and reinstalled from App Store. If there’s a problem with the app itself, the best way to deal with that is to update the system.
Here’s how to check for iOS updates on your device:
- Open Settings.
- Select General.
- Tap Software Updates.
- Download and install all available updates on your device.
In addition, make sure that all accompanied devices used to track steps (e.g. Apple Watch) are up to date, as well.
5. Reset All Settings
Finally, if none of the previous steps worked for you, you can try resetting All Settings. This action won’t delete any data but rather just restore all settings to their default values.
Here’s how to Reset All Settings on an iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings and enter your PIN/password when prompted.
- Confirm so your device can reset all system settings.
That should do it. Thank you for reading, check our social media handles (Facebook and Twitter), and share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions in the comments section below.
